By Chris Stonadge
ONE minute you’re a relatively unknown local football club in a league most people have never heard of, the next you’re centre of attention on primetime terrestrial television.
It could only be the magic of the FA Cup, and this Friday night that magic is coming to Isthmian League Division One North side AFC Sudbury.
They’ll be up against League Two Colchester United in the competition’s first round proper, with the action being screened live on BBC Two from 7.55pm.
So what’s it like being catapulted to the forefront of the UK football conversation?
Sudbury coach Liam Joyce is about to find out – and he’s “quietly confident” his team may be able to produce the sort of David and Goliath story for which the FA Cup has long been famous.
It’s the second time in their 22-year history that Sudbury have got this far, with the Yellows’ wins against Potton United, Stowmarket Town, Cheshunt and Dartford earning them the tie at home to U’s.
Joyce, who joined the backroom staff at the beginning of this season, is feeling relaxed about the upcoming tie.
“I’m feeling really good. The team is in great form, we’re playing good football and if there’s ever going to be a time to play Colchester United it’s now,” he said.
“We’re a very hard team to beat – and even though we’re four leagues apart we can certainly give them a very good game.”
With such an overachievement comes great attention, unprecedented at step eight of the English pyramid.
The game will be televised on the BBC, with King’s Marsh expecting a full capacity crowd in reception for a historic event in Sudbury folklore.
Joyce added: “The boys have worked so hard. They deserve the coverage they’ll get from the BBC, and other TV channels who will be coming down to watch us train and interview the boys.
“The crowd will play a massive part. The closeness to the pitch, the tightness, the atmosphere that we’ll create – it will be a tough place to come for any side.
“When we played Dartford at home the crowd was just buzzing and pulled us over the line, celebrating the goals and cheering on the players.
“Bonfire night will come thick and fast – and hopefully we can see some magic in the FA Cup too to entertain the viewers.”
Colchester haven’t pulled up any trees in League Two this season, sitting 17th after their 2-1 win over Scunthorpe United this week. Sudbury, however, lost 3-0 in FA Trophy qualification, but Joyce believes it could have been due to the magnitude of the occasion coming up.
“The defeat this weekend was unacceptable but understandable,” he said.
“These players may never have to opportunity to play in the FA Cup proper ever again – whereas Colchester will get that chance again next year.
“We have only lost twice this season (including last weekend). These boys, and I mean this in the greatest way possible, have the best desire for defending. The attitude required to always head that corner away, or block a shot – it is constant, and it is brilliant.”
Joyce’s point is shown in concrete by their statistics in their division this season, conceding just six times in eight matches.
The Essex-born coach has been through a fair share of hardship himself before reaching this point too.
Having suffered from mental health issues, he set up ‘I Hear You’ last year, a mental health charity aimed at breaking the barrier in football for players to speak about feelings and emotions.
His work included completing the ‘Three Peak Challenge’ and raising awareness online of the importance of mental wellbeing.
Joining Sudbury at the beginning of the campaign provided a different kind of task for Joyce, but he continues to rise through the pyramid with his man management skills – and praised the staff for their influence on the cup run.
He said: “Personally, the achievement of coaching against a football league team is amazing – but it’s more for the players than for me.
“We’ve got a tremendous and futuristic coaching team who cater to all areas which has helped the team reach this stage.
“You’ve got Angelo Harrop and Rick Andrews (the managers) who work in different ways, but they really complement each other.
“Angelo is the tactician and is probably one of the best coaches I’ve seen – I could listen to him talk all day! His football knowledge is second to none. Rick has a brilliant knowledge of non-league and has a great man management style which can really get the best out of our players.
“Pottsy (Danny Potter) has been a pro footballer for over 500 games and is a top goalkeeping coach at this level – and then you’ve got the most amateur in me!
“Angelo trusts how I coach because I provide great man management skills, and a balance between the players and coaching team.”
The narrative is intense, the TV cameras are there to capture a story – the fairy-tale could never be so perfectly written, and Joyce wants nothing more than his players to use of all this to their advantage come bonfire night.
Joyce continued: “To use all cliches, it’s David against Goliath, a Gladiator taking on a fortress of Gladiators – the odds are all against us.
“But last time I checked; football is a game of 11 versus 11. And I’m quietly confident we could do this.
“If you want to watch a bunch of lads who have rejuvenated a town and a football club who believe in the magic of the FA Cup, you could do no better than coming down to King’s Marsh.
“Friday night, under the lights – the story writes itself.”
You can watch AFC Sudbury host Colchester United on BBC Two on Friday from 7:55pm.